Bulgarian social services said they would look after the little girl while lawyers for the Greek gypsy couple who bought her in 2009 said they wanted her back.

An Athens Supreme Court source said: “Any claimant will have to prove that she is worthy of motherhood of the child.

“In this particular case the biological mother already abandoned the child once, in return for money, then fled the country instead of cooperating with authorities.

“Now, in Bulgaria, apparently she is also attempting to flee authorities there.

“There are already preliminary charges against her, and probably more to come, therefore chances of a return of Maria to her are slim.

“Firstly, she would have to clear herself of all charges, namely to be acquitted in court.

“Secondly, she will have to prove that she can provide the material and moral environment for the proper upbringing of the child.”

Iana Kaneva, Stara Zagora regional social services director in Bulgaria, said: “We will take Maria into a crisis centre and later take measures to take care of her.

“It is very possible the child will be given to a foster family.”

Mum-of-10 Sasha was working on a farm with other gypsies in Greece, when she fell pregnant with Maria.

Soon after the birth, she sold the unwanted tot to a group of child traffickers.

Maria was bought by Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, and husband Hristos Salis, 39, who raised her in a Roma camp in Farsala, central Greece, for four years until police took her away and arrested them last week.

They remain in custody awaiting trial.

Sasha admitted on Thursday when Bulgarian police caught up with her that she had sold or given away some of her other children in the past.

She was arrested in Greece in 2009 on suspicion of trying to sell a baby - believed to be Maria - but slipped away with the tot.

She was held again in January this year on a similar allegation but skipped bail while the child was put into care.

Maria’s sister, pale skinned Katya, 20, a mum-of-two, claimed yesterday: “My mum was going to go back to Greece and get Maria back but didn’t have the money.

“She left her there because she didn’t have the money to take her to Bulgaria.”